According to the Federal Government, Nigerians can now request their commercial banks provide them a debit card that also serves as their national identity card.
Prof Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, made a statement in Abuja on Wednesday. He stated that this issuance is free of charge.
Pantami added that approval was obtained during the Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He stated that the memo came as a result of a document from the National identification Management Commission that authorized banks to issue multipurpose debit cards that also functioned as National identification cards.
According to the Minister, “it will be a form of multipurpose card that will serve as your national identity card on the one hand and also your bank card on the other hand, either Mastercard, Visa, or any other kind of card.”
According to Pantami, despite the fact that the NIMC Act 2007 only requires Nigerians to have a National Identity Number and not necessarily a printed card, demand for cards has increased.
“As stated in Section 27 of the NIMC Act 2007, what is mandatory for our citizens and legal residents is the acquiring of the National Identity Number, not the card.” The card, however, is optional.
“However, many citizens, particularly those living in rural areas, always go to NIMC offices complaining that they need the card on hand, despite the fact that it is optional.”
“To make things easier, NIMC introduced a smart ID card last year that you can download from the NIMC app.” It is simply a smart card. It is not necessary to have it physically, but it is getting increasingly difficult for our people living in remote places.”
Pantami said that the NIMC partnered with the Central Bank of Nigeria “so that citizens who are interested in having a card at hand can easily go to the relevant banks.”
According to him, the bank can print the card alongside a Mastercard or Visa card.
“It will be a type of multipurpose card that will serve as your national identity card and your bank card.” And, according to the agreement, there will be no extra costs to our citizens.
“So, when you apply for a card at your bank, you can say, ‘I want this card to serve multiple functions, such as my bank card and my national identity card.'”
“Both of them will be printed on the same card and will serve the same purposes with no additional cost.”
The Minister said that the NIMC and the CBN signed a nondisclosure agreement to protect card applicants’ privacy and confidentiality. He assured cardholders’ privacy and confidentiality.
Pantami went on to say that when someone demand the card, the bank will need to connect to the NIMC via their database.
He explained that the bank next verifies the person’s information, which must match the record in the NIMC database. The card will then be printed for the user instantly.
According to the Minister, the FEC also authorized a document suggesting the implementation of an automated system that integrates NINs with individual SIM cards.
He said the system will streamline the installation of the NIN-SIM connection.
“As we all know, previous administrations made efforts to verify NIN and SIM starting in 2011 without success,” he said.
“In February 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the policy’s implementation, and Mr. President also launched and unveiled the revised version of the policy on May 6, 2021.”
“As of today, NIN and SIM policy registration are being implemented.” In order improve the implementation.
“The Nigerian Communications Commission came up with a proposal that will improve the policy’s implementation and bring it many more benefits.”
Pantami said that the automated system will sanitise the database and make SIM replacement easier for Nigerians and legal residents.
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